(DDM) – The Rivers State House of Assembly has reconvened after six months of suspension, immediately urging Governor Siminalayi Fubara to forward names of commissioner-nominees for screening and confirmation.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the lawmakers resumed sitting on Thursday at the Legislative Quarters in Port Harcourt, a makeshift venue that has hosted them during periods of political tension in the state.
The sitting marked the first formal legislative activity since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lifted the emergency rule that had effectively dissolved democratic governance in Rivers.
Lawmakers praised the president’s intervention, describing the decision as a bold step to restore constitutional order and reduce uncertainty in the oil-rich state.
They further assured Rivers residents that the Assembly is committed to peace and stability, promising to work within the framework of agreements reached during high-level reconciliations involving stakeholders.
At the plenary, the Assembly emphasized the urgent need for Governor Fubara to constitute a functional cabinet, arguing that Rivers cannot afford prolonged executive paralysis.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule said the governor must demonstrate readiness to govern by sending nominees for commissioner posts, stressing that ministries without leadership hamper service delivery and development projects.
Observers note that the return of legislative activities comes at a delicate time, as Rivers has endured months of political wrangling between rival factions loyal to Governor Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis led to deep divisions in the Assembly, with parallel sittings and accusations of illegal impeachments dominating headlines before Tinubu’s emergency rule dissolved the structure.
Analysts say the Assembly’s call for commissioner-nominees is both a constitutional duty and a political signal, reflecting the desire to reassert its role as a check on the executive.
During Thursday’s session, lawmakers also pledged to resist divisive politics, warning that Rivers cannot afford another spiral into instability that could affect governance and investor confidence.
Governor Fubara, alongside his deputy and lawmakers, is expected to fully resume constitutional functions in line with the presidential directive restoring normalcy.
Political watchers believe the coming weeks will determine whether Rivers State emerges stronger from the crisis or falls back into factional strife.
For many residents, the nomination of commissioners will be a litmus test of Fubara’s leadership capacity and willingness to build an inclusive government that reflects the state’s diversity.
As Rivers transitions from months of suspension to renewed political activity, citizens remain hopeful that both arms of government will work together to deliver long-awaited democratic dividends.
